California Classics Meet Southern Hospitality
Midtown · Memphis · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Porch and Parlor’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Porch and Parlor reads like a greatest hits of California Cabernet — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap all lined up like old friends. It's comfortable and recognizable, which is exactly what the room is going for. A Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 confirms this isn't an afterthought, even if it's not pushing any boundaries.
The list leans hard into California, particularly Napa and Sonoma heavyweights, and it earns its Award of Excellence by doing that well. You've got Duckhorn Merlot holding down the non-Cab options, Far Niente and Rombauer covering Chardonnay drinkers, and a red lineup anchored by Stag's Leap, Jordan, Silver Oak, and Caymus. Don't come here looking for Burgundy, Rhône, or anything that requires explanation — this list was built for steak lovers who know what they like. The 150-250 bottle range is respectable for a Memphis steakhouse, even if the regional diversity is slim.
With 12-20 pours running $12-$18 a glass, the BTG program covers the basics without surprising you. Expect the usual suspects from the California lineup to show up here in glass form, which is fine if you want a pour of Rombauer Chardonnay while you wait for your ribeye. Rotation appears limited — this feels like a set-it-and-forget-it program rather than something a manager is actively tending.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $40-$60 estimated bottle range
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and far less hyped than Caymus, which means you're paying for the wine rather than the label. It's the steakhouse bottle we'd actually order.
Duckhorn Merlot
In a room full of Cab-seekers, Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked constantly. It's plush, slightly softer, and honestly a better match for the lobster bisque or shrimp and grits than the big Cabs everyone else is ordering.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also the most marked-up bottle on any steakhouse list in America. You're paying a premium for the name recognition, and Jordan or Stag's Leap will give you a more interesting glass for less money.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Lobster Bisque
Far Niente's Chardonnay has the body and richness to hold up to a cream-based bisque without getting lost — it's one of the few white-wine moments on a list this Cab-heavy, and it's worth taking.
The Bottom Line
Porch and Parlor is a reliable Southern steakhouse wine list that plays to its crowd — if you love California Cabernet with your dry-aged beef, you're in the right place. It won't challenge you, but it'll take care of you.
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American, French
Chez Philippe is the wine list of a well-run fine dining institution that has been doing this right for 30 years — not a revelation, but reliably good and properly stored in a room that knows how to use it. Send a friend here if they want California Cab with a French menu inside one of Memphis's great hotels; don't send them if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Memphis · Memphis · Steak House
Char is a dependable, well-executed steakhouse wine list that earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by doing the classics right — but it's not trying to surprise you, and it won't. Send a friend here for a special occasion Cab and a steak; just don't expect the list to spark any new obsessions.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Cooper-Young · Memphis · Italian
Bari is the kind of Italian wine program Memphis deserves more of — specific, serious, and fairly priced for what you're getting. If you're anywhere near Cooper-Young and want to drink real Italian wine with real Italian food, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Unknown · Memphis · Bistro
Hu. Bistro isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its by-the-glass list is priced fairly and built with more care than you'd expect from a hotel rooftop. If you're in Memphis and want a decent glass without getting gouged for the privilege, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Memphis · New American
The Beauty Shop is a Wild Card in the best possible way — a funky, retro-cool restaurant with a wine list that has no business being this thoughtful. Markups keep it from greatness, but the glass pour selection and genuine regional variety make it worth ordering a bottle or three.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Memphis · Memphis · Seafood, Cajun & Creole
Half Shell is a genuinely charming spot with food worth coming back for — but the wine list is coasting hard on the restaurant's atmosphere and doing almost nothing to earn its markups. Drink the Vinho Verde, skip the red wine section entirely, and put your money toward another round of oysters.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Chicago Loop · Chicago · Steak House
A Napa-leaning Cabernet list with a Library & Reserve section that reaches 3,098 and glass pours from $13.99 to $49.99. Start with the $15.99 Broadbent Cabernet by the glass, or the $41.99 Stag's Leap Artemis if the ribeye is on the table, and confirm current availability since the list does not guarantee vintages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Union Square · San Francisco · Steak House
A glass list that does the steakhouse job: 36 pours, a tidy Napa Cabernet set and prices from $13. Order the $15 Beringer Cabernet with your steak, or the $14 Guado Al Tasso Vermentino if you are starting with seafood, and confirm availability since the page is undated and Morton's says pricing may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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